Modular dampening system spray bar having individual, localized control spray nozzles

Abstract

A spray bar dampening system ( 10 ) having at least one spray bar ( 12 ) that is controlled with a distributed control system to provide high-speed adaptive and custom control of spray dampening in a printing press or other application. Along with the spray bar, the dampening system includes a bar address module ( 14 ) for coupling with the spray bar, a speed converter module ( 16 ), a network interface module ( 18 ), and a remote terminal module ( 20 ) that all communicate with one another over a communications bus ( 22 ). Each module performs distributed control functions unique to its particular place in the overall system. The spray bar includes an elongated support ( 24 ); a plurality of spray nozzles ( 26 ) spaced along the support; a conduit ( 28 ) carried by the support and connected to the nozzles for supplying fluid or other substance thereto; a plurality of electrically actuated valves ( 30 ) operable to control the flow of fluid or other substance through the conduit to the nozzles; a plurality of valve drive elements ( 32 ) for driving the valves; a bar interface module ( 38 ) positioned on the support and operable for receiving information from an external control element and for calculating a spray request signal such as a target pulses per minute (PPM) valve in response to the information; and a plurality of valve control modules ( 40 ) positioned on the support, each coupled between the bar interface module and one of the valve drive elements, for controlling operation of the valve drive element in response to the spray request from the bar interface module.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following:  
     
         1 . A spray bar comprising: 
 an elongated support;    a plurality of spray nozzles spaced along the support;    a conduit carried by the support and connected to the nozzles for supplying fluid or other substance thereto;    a plurality of electrically actuated valves moveable proportionally between opened and closed positions to control the flow of fluid or other substance through the conduit to the nozzles;    a plurality of valve drive elements for driving the valves proportionally between the opened and closed positions;    a bar interface module positioned on the support and operable for receiving information from an external control element and for calculating a spray request signal in response to the information; and    a plurality of valve control modules positioned on the support, each coupled between the bar interface module and one of the valve drive elements, for controlling operation of the valve drive elements in response to the fluid spray rate request from the bar interface module.    
     
     
         2 . The spray bar as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the external control element is a speed measuring device for measuring speed of a printing press, the information being press speed.  
     
     
         3 . The spray bar as set forth in  claim 1 , the spray request including a pulse per minute target value.  
     
     
         4 . The spray bar as set forth in  claim 1 , each of the valve control modules including 
 drive circuitry for directing its corresponding valve drive element to open and close its corresponding valve in response to the spray request in accordance with precalibrated on and off duty cycles, and    a feedback circuit coupled between the valve drive element and the drive circuitry for monitoring operation of the valve drive element and for generating a corresponding feedback signal.    
     
     
         5 . The spray bar as set forth in  claim 4 , the drive circuitry being operable for adjusting the pre-calibrated duty cycles in response to the feedback signal for adjusting the opening and closing of the valve.  
     
     
         6 . The spray bar as set forth in  claim 4 , the pre-calibrated on and off duty cycles including a maximum duty cycle applied to the valve drive element to initially open the valve, a minimum duty cycle applied to the valve drive element after the valve has been opened, and an off duty cycle applied to the valve drive element when the valve is closed.  
     
     
         7 . A spray bar dampening system comprising: 
 a spray bar including an 
 elongated support,  
 a plurality of spray nozzles spaced along the support,  
 a conduit carried by the support and connected to the nozzles for supplying fluid or other substance thereto,  
 a plurality of electrically actuated valves moveable between opened and closed positions to control the flow of fluid or other substance through the conduit to the nozzles,  
 a plurality of valve drive elements for driving the valves between the opened and closed positions,  
 a bar interface module positioned on the support and operable for receiving information from an external control element and for calculating a spray request signal in response to the information, the bar interface module including memory for storing a code representative of a logical address for the spray bar, and  
 a plurality of valve control modules positioned on the support, each coupled between the bar interface module and one of the valve drive elements, for controlling operation of the valve drive elements in response to the spray request from the bar interface module; and  
   a bar address module configured for mounting adjacent the spray bar and including structure for removably coupling with the spray bar, the bar address module including memory for storing a code representative of a physical location of the bar address module, wherein the bar interface module and bar address module communicate when the spray bar is coupled with the bar address module for permitting the bar interface module to determine the physical location of the spray bar based on the code in the memory of the bar address module.    
     
     
         8 . A spray bar dampening system as set forth in  claim 7 , further including a network interface module for permitting external computing devices to communicate with the bar address module and spray bar, a remote terminal module including a display for displaying information relating to the operation of the spray bar, and a communication bus operably coupled between the bar address module and the network interface and remote terminal modules for providing communications therebetween.  
     
     
         9 . The spray bar dampening system as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the external control element is a speed measuring device for measuring speed of a printing press, the information being press speed.  
     
     
         10 . The spray bar dampening system as set forth in  claim 7 , the spray request including a pulse per minute target value.  
     
     
         11 . The spray bar dampening system as set forth in  claim 7 , each of the valve control modules including drive 
 circuitry for directing its corresponding valve drive element to open and close its corresponding valve in response to the fluid spray rate request in accordance with pre-calibrated on and off duty cycles, and    a feedback circuit coupled between the valve drive element and the drive circuitry for monitoring operation of the valve drive element and for generating a corresponding feedback signal.    
     
     
         12 . The spray bar dampening system as set forth in  claim 11 , the drive circuitry being operable for adjusting the pre-calibrated duty cycles in response to the feedback signal for adjusting the opening and closing of the valve.  
     
     
         13 . The spray bar dampening system as set forth in  claim 11 , the pre-calibrated on and off duty cycles including a maximum duty cycle applied to the valve drive element to initially open the valve, a minimum duty cycle applied to the valve drive element after the valve has been opened, and an off duty cycle applied to the valve drive element when the valve is closed.  
     
     
         14 . A spray bar control system for attachment to a spray bar having a plurality of spray nozzles spaced along the length thereof, a conduit for supplying fluid or other substances to the spray nozzles, a plurality of electrically actuated valves operable to control the flow of fluid or other substances through the conduit to the nozzles, and a plurality of drive elements for driving the valves, the spray bar control system comprising: 
 a bar interface module positioned on the support and operable for receiving information from an external control element and for calculating a spray request signal in response to the information; and    a plurality of valve control modules positioned on the support, each coupled between the bar interface module and one of the valve drive elements, for controlling operation of the valve drive elements in response to the spray request from the bar interface module.    
     
     
         15 . A spray bar control system as set forth in  claim 14 , the valve control modules further including: 
 drive circuitry for directing its corresponding valve drive element to open and close its corresponding the valve in response to the spray request in accordance with precalibrated on and off duty cycles; and    a feedback circuit coupled between the valve drive element and the drive circuitry for monitoring operation of the valve drive element and for generating a corresponding feedback signal.    
     
     
         16 . The valve control modules as set forth in  claim 15 , the drive circuitry being operable for adjusting the pre-calibrated duty cycles in response to the feedback signal for adjusting the opening and closing of the valve.  
     
     
         17 . The valve control modules as set forth in  claim 16 , the pre-calibrated on and off duty cycles including a maximum duty cycle applied to the valve drive element to initially open the valve, a minimum duty cycle applied to the valve drive element after the valve has been opened, and an off duty cycle applied to the valve drive element when the valve is closed.